Dual-zone producing apparatus



July 3, 1956 N. o. GREENE DUAL-ZONE PRODUCING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 15, 1955 IN V EN TOR. /V0/a/2 0. flea/re.

V \IIIIIIIII I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 N. O. GREENE DUAL-ZONE PRODUCING APPARATUS July 3, 1956 Filed Feb. 15, 1955 United States DUAL-ZONE PRUDUCING APPARATUS Application February 15, 1955, Serial No. 488,218

10 Claims. (Cl. 103 -46) This invention relates to apparatus for selectively producing either of two subterranean petroleum reservoirs.

Broadly, according to the invention, the apparatus comprises, in combination with a free type hydraulic pumping assembly, a hollow seating shoe connected to the lower end of the pumping assembly and having a pair of inlet ports provided with check valves for separately admitting fluids from two petroleum reservoirs, together with a pair of interchangeable adapters that are alternately and detachablysecured to the inlet of the conventional free type pump for selective communication with the inlet ports.

The free type pump together with the attached adapter can be lowered and positioned in operative position in the well hydraulically. The arrangement is such that lowering the pump to its operative position also lowers the adapter to its operative position in the hollow seating shoe. In its operative position in the seating shoe, one of the adapters affords communication solely between the pump inlet and one of the inlet ports of the seating shoe, while the other interchangeable adapter affords communication solely between the pump inlet and the other inlet port of the seating shoe.

Interchange of the adapters is expeditiously effected without the use of special equipment by hydraulically removing the pump from the well in the usual manner, whereupon the attached adapter is raised from within the seating shoe and removed from the well along with the pump, so that the other adapter can be substituted on the pump prior to returning the latter into the well.

Free type pumping assemblies are well known in the art and available commercially. Such pumping assemblies are characterized by a hydraulic pump that is slidingly fitted and hydraulically movable within tubing, so that the pump can be positioned hydraulically.

The apparatus of the invention is illustrated in connection with a free type pumping assembly of the parallel type available on the market from Kobe, Inc.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a diagrammatic view of the pumping assembly installed in a well;

Figure 2 is an enlarged view, partly in section, of the adapter and its relation to the pump and the seating shoe;

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail view of an adapter interchangeable with the adapter shown in Figure 2, the fluid passageway therethrough being indicated in dotted outline;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the seating shoe, together with a modified form of adapter partly shown in elevation; and

Figure 5 is a detail View of an adapter interchangeable with the adapter shown in Figure 4, the fluid passageway therethrough being indicated in dotted outline.

Referring to Figure 1, the numeral designates generally a well provided :with the usual casing 12. Extending downward'through the casing head 14 is a pressure tubing 16, and a production tubing 18. The lower ends of the strings of tubings 16 and 18 are secured to a shoe assematent ice bly 20. The shoe assembly 20 is in turn connected to a seating shoe 22 by means of a connecting pipe 24. The tubings 16 and 18 and the connecting pipe 24 are secured to the shoe assembly 20 in any suitable manner, such as by being welded or having a threaded connection therewith. Similarly, the connecting pipe 24 is secured to the seating shoe 22 in any suitable manner, as by welding or being threaded thereto.

As best shown in Figure 2, the shoe assembly 20 is provided with an opening 26 therethrough in alignment with the tubing 16 and the connecting pipe 24. The shoe assembly 20 is also provided with a blind opening 23 having communication with the opening 26 by way of an inclined passageway 30, as shown. The openings 26 and 28, and the passageway 30 afford communication between the tubings 16 and 18 within the shoe assembly 20.

The seating shoe 22 is provided with an opening 32 therethrough that is in alignment with the connecting pipe 24, such opening 32 being provided with a pair of tapered shoulders constituting seats 34 and 36. The lower end of the opening 32 is enlarged as at 38 and receives the upper end of tubing 40, the latter being secured to the seating shoe 22 in any suitable manner.

The seating shoe 22 is provided with :a blind opening 4-2, the inner end of such opening 42 having communication with the opening 32 intermediate the seats 34 and 36 by way of a lateral passageway 44. A check valve comprising a ball 46 and seat48 therefor is positioned in the blind opening 42 in order to prevent downward fluid flow therethrough. The seat 48 is removably retained in the opening 42 by means of a tubing 50 threaded into the opening 42, as shown. The tubing 40 is also provided with a check valve for preventing downward fluid flow comprising a ball 52 and a seat 54 secured within the tubing 40.

Slidingly fitted within the tithing 16 is a free type Kobe pump designated generally at 56. The pump 56 in itself is conventional in character and includes packer cup 58 and O ring 60 for sealing engagement with the internal surface of the tubing 16 whereby the pump 56 can be hydraulically positioned within the tubing 16. As in pumps of the free type, the pump 56 has an inlet, not shown, at its lower end for fluids being pumped, and in accordance with the present invention, it is to the lower end of the pump 56 that an adapter 62 is detachably secured.

The adapter 62 is detachably secured to the lower end of the pump 56 in any suitable manner, such as by screw threads 64 and is of generally cylindrical configuration. The adapter 62 is provided with a tapered shoulder 66 for cooperation with the seat 34, a reduced cylindrical section 68 below the shoulder 66, and terminates at its lower end in an enlarged portion having a tapered shoulder 70 for cooperation with the seat 36.

The arrangement is such that the adapter 62 may be freely introduced into and removed from the seating shoe 22, with downward movement of the adapter 62 being limited by the concurrent sealing engagement of the shoulders 66 and 70 with the seats 34 and .36, respectively. In order to insure the effectiveness of the sealing engage ment of the shoulders 66 and 70 with the seats 34 and 36, the tapered shoulders 66 and 70 are provided with 0 rings 72 and 74, respectively, as seals.

The adapter 62 is provided with a central longitudinal passageway 76- which opens at the upper end of the adapter 62 and is in communication with the inlet, not shown, of the pump 56. The lower end of the passageway 76 terminates between the shoulders 66 and 70 and its lower terminus has communication with the exterior of the adapter 62 by way of a transverse opening 78 extending through the reduced portion 68 of the adapter 62. It will be noted that the external diameter of the reduced 3 portion 68 of the adapter 62 is less than the internal diameter of that portion of the opening 32 in which it is received, so that fluid communication between the lateral passageway 44 and the passageway 76 is obtained through the annular space surrounding the reduced portion 68 of the adapter 62 and the opening 78.

As shown in Figure 2, it will be seen that the adapter 62 closes communication between the interior of the tubing and the passageway 76 and consequently the inlet of the pump 56 while permitting communication between the interior of the tubing and the passageway 76. It is to be understood that the tubings 40 and 50 are connected to isolated petroleum reservoirs by conventional means, which are not shown, as such is not necessary to an understanding of the invention. Thus, the reservoir to which the tubing 50 is connected can be produced by the arrangement shown in Figure 2 with such produced fluid being prevented from commingling with fluids from the reservoir to which tubing 40 is connected. It is also to be noted that the ball check valves 52 and 46 prevent downward flow in the tubings 40 and 50, so as to prevent commingling of fluids in the tubings 4i and 50 upon removal of the adapter.

The alternate form of adapter 80 shown in Figure 3 is interchangeable on the pump 56 with the adapter 62 and is identical to the adapter 62 with the exception that the same is provided with a passageway 82 that extends entirely through the adapter 80, as shown. It will be evident that substitution of the adapter 80 for the adapter 82 in the arrangement shown in Figure 2 will close off communication between the lateral passageway 44 and the inlet of the pump 56 while permitting communication between the tubing 40 and the inlet of the pump 56 by way of the passageway 82. Thus, choice of which of the adapters 62 and 80 that is attached to the pump 56 determines which of the tubings 40 and 50 communicates with the inlet of the pump 56.

Illustrated schematically in Figure 1 is conventional means for forcing fluid under pressure down the tubing 16 while producing from the tubing 18 spent fluid from the tubing 16 and fluid pumped by the pump 56. Such conventional means can also be used to force fluid down the tubing 18 for hydraulically raising the pump 56 and its attached adapter 62 or 80. Such conventional means includes a 4-way valve 84 connected to the tubings 16 and 18, together with a pump 86 for pumping fluid under pressure to the valve 84 through a conduit 88. The pump 86 receives fluid from tank 90 through a conduit 92, the tank 90 being connected to the 4-way valve 84 by conduit 94.

The arrangement is such that in one position of the 4-way valve 84 fluid under pressure in the conduit 88 is directed to the tubing 16 while the tubing 18 has communication with the conduit 94. In another position of the 4-way valve 84, fluid under pressure from the conduit 88 is directed into the tubing 18 while the tubing 16 is in communication with the conduit 94. With the valve 84 in the first mentioned position, the pump 56 together with its attached adapter can be forced hydraulically downward through the tubing 16 until such elements are in their operative positions shown in Figure 2, whereupon spent fluid from the tubing 16 together with fluid pumped by the pump 56 are conducted to the tank 90 by way of the tubing 18, the valve 84, and the conduit 94. With the valve 84 in the second mentioned position, fluid under pressure in the tubing 18 acts beneath the pump 56 to force the latter together with the attached adapter to the surface through the tubing 16, with fluids above the pump 56 being conducted to the tank 90 by way of the tubing 16, the valve 84, and the conduit 94.

Means, not shown, of conventional character are provided whereby the pump 56 and its attached adapter can be inserted in the upper part of the tubing 16 or removed therefrom.

Referring to Figure 4, wherein there is disclosed an alternative form of seating shoe and adapter, the numeral 96 designates the seating shoe. The seating shoe 96 is provided with an opening 98 extending therethrough raving a cylindrical configuration and upper and lower portions 108 and 182 of tapered configuration. Like the seating shoe 22, the seating shoe 96 is provided with an elbow-shaped passageway 104 that communicates with the opening 98.

The passageway 104 is provided with a check valve 106 and a conduit 108 is connected to the seating shoe '96 for communication with the passageway 104. A further conduit 110 is connected to the seating shoe 96 for communication with the opening 98, the upper portion of the conduit 110 being provided witha check valve 112.

The modified adapter 114 is provided with suitable means for detachable connection of a free type pump, such as screw threads 116. The adapter 114 is slidingly received within the'cylindrical portion of the opening 98, and is provided with an intermediate portion 118 of reduced diameter, so that the portions and 122 of the adapter 114 immediately above and below the reduced portion 118 constitute pistons in sliding contact with the cylindrical walls of the opening 98. In order to insure a fluid tight sealing contact between the portions 120 and 122 and the seating shoe 96, such portions are preferably provided with sealing means, such as 0 rings 124 and 126, respectively.

The adapter 114 is provided with a passageway 128 that extends from the upper end thereof to a position intermediate the piston-like portions 120 and 122. The passageway 128 has lateral communication with the exterior of the adapter 114 by means of a transverse opening 130 through the reduced portion 118 of the adapter 114.

Thus, with the adapter 114 positioned in the seating shoe 96, as shown in Figure 4, the passageway 104 communicates through the upper end of the adapter 114 by way of the annular space in the opening 98 surrounding the reduced portion 118, the transverse opening 130, and the passageway 128, while the lower portion of the opening 98 is closed by the portion 122 of the adapter 114.

It will be noted that the adapter 114 may be freely inserted into and removed from the seating shoe 96, the tapered surfaces 100' and 102 facilitating alignment of the adapter 114 with the opening 98 during the insertion of the adapter 114. Preferably the lower end of the adapter 114 is tapered as at 132 for cooperation with the tapered surface 100 of the opening 98.

Referring now to Figure 5, there is shown an adapter 134 interchangeable with the adapter 114 shown in Figure 4. The adapter 134 is in all respects identical to the adapter 114, with the exception that it has a passageway 136 extending throughout the axial length thereof. It will be seen that substitution of the adapter 134 for the adapter 114, as shown in Figure 4, will permit communication between the upper end of the adapter and the conduit 110, while denying such communication to the passageway 104. I r 1 From the foregoing, the operation of the described apparatus will be readily understood. With the use of the form of the apparatus shown in Figures 1 through 3, either the adapter 62 or the adapter 80 is attached to the pump 56 depending on whether it is desired to pump from the conduit 50 or the conduit 40, whereupon the pump 56 and its attached adapter are placed in the tubing 16 and hydraulically positioned in the operative position shown in Figure 2, as previously described. Fluids from whichever of the conduits 50 or 40, thus selected, are then pumped upwardly through the tubing 18 and into the tank 90 upon continuance of pumping fluid under pressure into the upper end of the tubing 16. When it is desired to pump from the other of the conduits 50 or 40, the 4-way valve 84 is operated to pump fluids down through the tubing 18 and therefore hydraulically raise the pump 56 an d its attached adapter to the upper end of the tubing greases 16. The pump 56 and its attached adapter are then removed from the tubing 16 in the usual manner, the adapter removed and the other of the adapters attached to the pump 56, whereupon the pump 56 and the substituted adapter are lowered and operated as previously described.

The use of the alternative forms of seating shoe 96 and adapters 114 and 136 shown in Figures 4 and 5 parallels that of the previously described embodiment.

The apparatus, illustrated and described affords an extremely convenient means of selectively producing from one or two subterranean reservoirs in such a manner as to avoid commingling of such fluids. In contrast with usual apparatus for selectively producing from two separate reservoirs, the selection of the reservoir to be pro duced is not dependent upon mechanically operating a valving apparatus from the earths surface, such as by raising or lowering an entire string of tubing. The simplicity of the apparatus herein disclosed is in itself substantial insurance against its malfunction. Still another important advantage of the apparatus herein disclosed resides in the fact that neither the use of the pump nor the interchange of adapters necessitates the use of a derrick or any expensive hoisting machinery.

Substantial changes in the form of the apparatus illustrated and described can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the illustrated apparatus can be readily modified for use with another form of free type hydraulic pumping system that does not utilize the tubing 18 inasmuch as the annular space within the casing 12 and surrounding the tubing 16 is used for such purpose. In order to adapt the illustrated and described apparatus for use with such other pumping assembly, it would be only necessary to dispense with the tubing 18 and establish a packing seal between the casing 12 and the seating shoe 22 and connection of the 4-way valve 84 to the annular space surrounding the tubing 16 rather than the tubing 18.

Although the disclosed embodiments of the invention have been described in considerable detail, reference should be made to the appended claims to ascertain the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a hydraulic well-pumping assembly of the class wherein a hydraulic pump is hydraulically positionable in a string of tubing, the combination with the pump and the tubing of a hollow seating shoe at the lower end of the tubing having a pair of inlet ports provided with check valves, an adapter detachably secured to the bottom of the pump and vertically movable therewith, said adapter being engageable with the seating shoe and including means for closing fluid communication between one of the inlet ports and the tubing and also including means for fluid communication solely between the other inlet port and the pump.

2. In a hydraulic well-pumping assembly of the class wherein a hydraulic pump is hydraulically positionable in a string of tubing, the combination with the pump and the tubing of a hollow seating shoe at the lower end of the tubing having a pair of inlet ports provided with check valves, an adapter detachably secured to the bottom of the pump and vertically movable therewith, said adapter being engageable with the seating shoe and including means for closing fluid communication between one of the inlet ports and the tubing and also including means for fluid communication solely between the other inlet port and the pump, and a further adapter interchangeable with the first mentioned adapter, said further adapter including means for closing fluid communication between said other inlet port and the tubing and also including means for fluid communication solely between said one inlet port and the pump.

3. Apparatus for selectively pumping from two subterranean reservoirs comprising first and second tubings adapted to extend downwardly in a well, a hollow seating shoe connected to the lower end of the first tubing,

said seating shoe having a pair of inlet ports provided with check valves for admitting fluids from separate reservoirs, a free type hydraulic pump slidable and hydraulically positionable in the first tubing, an adapter detachably secured to the bottom of the pump and vertically movable therewith, said adapter being engageable withthe' seating shoe and including means for closing fluid communication between one of the inlet ports and the first tubing and also including means for fluid communication solely between the other inlet port and the pump, means affording fluid communication between the tubings adjacent their lower ends, and means for selectively introducing fluid into the upper end of either of said tubings under pressure.

4. Apparatus for selectively pumping from two subterranean reservoirs comprising first and second tubings adapted to extend downwardly in a well, a hollow seating shoe connected to the lower end of the first tubing, said seating shoe having a pair of inlet ports provided with check valves for admitting fluids from separate reservoirs,

a free type hydraulic pump slidable and hydraulically positionable in the first tubing, an adapter detachably secured to the bottom of the pump and vertically movable therewith, said adapter being engageable with the seating shoe and including means for closing fluid communication between one of the inlet ports and the first tubing and also including means for fluid communication solely between the other inlet port and the pump, a further adapter interchangeable with the first mentioned adapter, said further adapter including means for closing fluid communication between said other inlet port and the first tubing and also including means for fluid communication solely between said one inlet port and the pump, means aflording fluid communication between the tubings adjacent their lower ends, and means for selectively introducing fluid into the upper end of either of said tubings under pressure.

5. In a hydraulic well-pumping assembly of the class wherein a hydraulic pump is hydraulically positionable in a string of tubing, the combination with thepump and the tubing of a hollow seating shoe at the lower end of the tubing having a pair of inlet ports provided with check valves, an adapter detachably secured to the bottom of the pump and vertically movable therewith, said adapter sealingly engaging the seating shoe intermediate both the inlet ports and the tubing and also sealingly engaging the seating shoe intermediate the inlet ports, and passageway means in the adapter for fluid communication solely between one of the inlet ports and the pump.

6. The combination of claim 5, wherein said seating shoe is provided with a pair of spaced, annular seats that are in alignment with the tubing with the lowermost seat being relatively smaller, said inlet ports opening into the seating shoe intermediate said seats and through the lowermost seat respectively, and said adapter having a pair of spaced annular shoulders for simultaneously engaging the seats.

7. The combination of claim 5, wherein said hollow seating shoe has upper and lower internal cylindrical portions disposed between both inlet ports and the tubing and intermediate the inlet ports respectively, said adapter having upper and lower cylindrical portions slidable in the upper and lower cylindrical portions of the seating shoe respectively.

8. For use in a free type hydraulic pumping assem bly, a seating shoe comprising a body having an elongated opening therein, an elongated adapter removably received within the opening, said adapter having axially spaced portions sealingly engaging the seating shoe, means adjacent one end of the adapter for detachably securing the same to a free type pump, said body having a pair of inlet ports communicating with the opening intermediate said adapter portions and adjacent the other end of the adapter respectively, and passageway 7 8 nieans in the adapter communicating between said one 10. The combination of claim 8, wherein said'portions end ofthe adapter and one of the inlet ports. of the adapter are cylindrical and sliding'ly engage com- 9'. The combination of claim 8, wherein a paii' of plementar'y portions of the walls definingsai'd' opening spaced annular seats constitute portions of the walls de- I fining the opening, said spaced portions being annular 5 'No references cited. shoulders on the adapter engaging the seats. 

1. IN A HYDRAULIC WELL-PUMPING ASSEMBLY OF THE CLASS WHEREIN A HYDRAULIC PUMP IS HYDRAULICALLY POSITIONABLE IN A STRING OF TUBING THE COMBINATION WITH THE PUMP AND THE TUBING OF A HOLLOW SEATING SHOE AT THE LOWER END OF THE TUBING HAVING A PAIR OF INLET PORTS PROVIDE WITH CHECK VALVES, AN ADAPTER DETACHABLY SECURED TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PUMP AND VERTICALLY MOVABLY THEREWITH, SAID ADAPTER BEING ENGAGEABLE WITH THE SEATING SHOE AND INCLUDING MEANS FOR CLOSING FLUID COMMUNICATION BETWEEN ONE OF THE INLET PORTS AND THE TUBING AND ALSO INCLUDING MEANS FOR FLUID COMMUNICATION SOLELY BETWEEN THE OTHER INLET PORT AND THE PUMP. 